OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Decatur, IL 62521

Decatur: median income $66,337, home value $125,100, $91/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wabash, IN 46992 93%177$66,220$159,900$118 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Newton, KS 67114 93%468$70,018$166,300$103 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Girard, OH 44420 92%443$61,707$121,100$122 smaller
Huntington, IN 46750 91%195$63,978$158,100$130 pricier homes ($33K more)
Ottumwa, IA 52501 91%200$63,426$122,700$121 Very close on everything we compare
Duncan, OK 73533 91%617$59,906$144,500$103 newer homes
Borger, TX 79007 91%738$63,929$112,900$99 smaller
Pampa, TX 79065 91%720$58,912$110,000$97 smaller · younger residents
Bradford, PA 16701 90%557$65,102$106,700$95 smaller · older homes
Ashland, KY 41102 90%348$67,879$153,800$110 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · newer homes
Kokomo, IN 46901 90%155$60,495$142,100$123 Very close on everything we compare
Logansport, IN 46947 90%150$54,791$126,800$113 Very close on everything we compare
New Castle, IN 47362 90%190$60,258$146,800$113 Very close on everything we compare
Evansville, IN 47711 90%144$66,320$167,200$140 pricier homes ($42K more)
Fort Madison, IA 52627 90%138$56,401$116,500$85 smaller
Independence, KS 67301 90%408$54,950$120,000$96 smaller
Ogdensburg, NY 13669 89%765$70,304$100,200$77 smaller
Saint Albans, WV 25177 89%395$55,046$139,900$116 Very close on everything we compare
Fremont, OH 43420 89%323$61,331$152,900$137 pricier homes ($28K more)
Piqua, OH 45356 89%249$69,188$156,400$134 pricier homes ($31K more)
Van Wert, OH 45891 89%240$64,272$152,100$133 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Portland, IN 47371 89%213$64,000$123,000$111 smaller
Bay City, MI 48706 89%366$62,747$155,800$129 pricier homes ($31K more)
Battle Creek, MI 49017 89%260$60,885$152,900$125 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Charles City, IA 50616 89%295$64,830$140,600$99 smaller

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.